Latest news with #LeeJeHoon
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lee Je Hoon was once kicked out of a film project; the actor opens up about life in the entertainment industry
Actor Lee Je Hoon , who is well known for his role in ' Taxi Driver ', recently got candid about his life in the entertainment industry . He shared how he was once forced out of a film role and how it had a major effect on him. Lee Je Hoon talks about his wish to become an actor Lee Je Hoon recently featured on a popular Korean variety show titled ' Morning Yard – Tuesday Invitation ', where he opened up about his life in the entertainment industry. The actor shared how he came to enter the entertainment industry. He shared that 'I dreamed of becoming an actor after watching many movies since I was young. I thought about how happy I would be if I appeared on screen. Now that I am, I am so happy and grateful. I used to watch a lot of movies at the video store and thought that if I became a video store owner, I would be able to watch movies for the rest of my life. That's how I dreamed of becoming an actor.' Je Hoon was forced out of a film? Actor shares details While talking about different incidents from his life as an actor, Je Hoon revealed that he was once forced to leave a film project! The actor shared during the show that his journey began in an unconventional way. Citing his education, he shared that 'I was originally a science major and ended up going to engineering school. I knew what I would do at school, but my heart didn't move. I started doing odd jobs, learnt from my seniors, and got the opportunity to be the main character.' He then shared how this opportunity was abruptly taken away from him. He talked about how shocked he was after he was told that he did not have the quality for the 'main lead'. He continued, 'The seniors and staff in charge of directing told me that I still lacked the qualities and attitude of an actor to play the main character. I was so shocked that I couldn't speak.' The actor wants to be remembered as a 'good actor' When talking about his future in the acting field, the actor detailed how he wants to be remembered. He stated that 'My biggest goal is to be remembered as a good actor even after 30 or 40 years.' Je Hoon also joked about how he has not featured in a drama from the variety show's providers. He jokingly shared with the cast of the show that 'I still haven't had a chance to appear in a KBS drama, so if the KBS president is watching this, I really would like to appear on KBS. Please contact me. If I get to film in a KBS K-drama, I will appear on this show again.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Taxi Driver' actor Lee Je Hoon opens up about his family's past; shares how they dealt with the IMF financial crisis
Popular actor Lee Je Hoon recently opened up about his personal life and how he and his family had to suffer from a financial crisis at one point in time. The actor, during an interview, opened up about how his family and he had to suffer because of the massive crisis that hit the country alongside Thailand and Indonesia in 1997. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lee Je Hoon opens up about dealing with the 'real' IMF crisis The popular actor, well known for his roles in 'Signal', 'Move to Heaven', and 'Where Stars Land', starred in an interview for the promotion of his next project titled 'Big Deal'. The actor was seen on June 2 sitting for an interview, according to Koreaboo, where the actor talked about how he dealt with the financial crisis too. His latest project, 'Big Deal', is also set during the time of the crisis, sparking the impromptu conversation. While getting candid about his past, the actor shared that 'I actually experienced a difficult time during the IMF crisis, so it was meaningful to tell this story.' He then detailed how the crisis came to be and how his family managed to survive through everything. He shared during the interview that 'From my middle school to when I was in my early 20s, I remember the IMF period. My family ran a business— a rice shop and a restaurant. After the IMF crisis, I saw my father going out to do day labour, and that's when I realised just how difficult things had become.' Cites that shooting for 'Big Deal' felt more personal While discussing his time during the IMF crisis, the actor also detailed how special shooting his latest project was. He shared during the interview that the experience hit close to home and felt a lot more personal to him. More about Lee Je Hoon's 'Big Deal' 'Big Deal' is an up-and-coming film that stars Lee Je Hoon along with Yoo Hae Jin, Son Hyun Joo, and Choi Young Joon. It is set against the backdrop of the IMF crisis and shows the story of the CFO of Korea's no. 1 company producing Soju, how that company deals with financial turmoil and an ambitious investment firm employee.
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Business
- Pink Villa
Lee Je Hoon reveals his father turned to day labor after IMF crisis shut family business, calls Big Deal ‘meaningful'
South Korea was plunged into one of the worst financial crises in 1997, now remembered as the IMF crisis. Businesses folded overnight, unemployment skyrocketed, and middle-class families across the country saw their lives unravel. For actor Lee Je Hoon, this wasn't just history; it was part of his own story. On June 2, a press interview was held to promote Lee Je Hoon 's latest film Big Deal. He candidly reflected on how the events of 1997 disrupted his childhood and reshaped the trajectory of his life. As it turns out, the film's subject matter (which portrays South Korea during the peak of its economic collapse) aligns closely with Lee's lived experience. Lee Je Hoon's firsthand account of family collapse Reflecting on his younger years, Lee Je Hoon shared that he was in middle school when the financial crisis hit. At the time, his family owned two small businesses: a rice store and a restaurant. They were modest but stable ventures that helped them maintain a comfortable life. However, like countless small business owners during that period, the crash came swiftly and without mercy. His family's businesses couldn't withstand the economic shock, and they were forced to shut down. The most painful moment for Lee Je Hoon, he shared, was seeing his father 'going out to do day labor' to make ends meet. It was a sobering experience for a teenager to watch. 'That's when I realized just how difficult things had become,' he shared. From Biotechnology to the big screen Though the crisis brought severe hardship, it also instilled in Lee a level of emotional maturity beyond his years. He witnessed not only his family's hardship but also the collective pain of a nation. Small shops closed, neighbors lost jobs, and people who once lived comfortably had to rethink everything. Interestingly, Lee didn't begin his adult life on an acting path. He was initially enrolled as a Biotechnology student at Korea University, a route that promised academic stability. But the desire to pursue acting led him to abandon that conventional track. He later transferred to the Korea National University of Arts, where he studied drama. Over the next two decades, Lee worked his way up from indie films to mainstream blockbusters and critically acclaimed dramas. Big Deal marks a full-circle moment For Lee Je Hoon, working on Big Deal is more than just another acting project; it feels like a full-circle moment. He expressed, 'I actually experienced a difficult time during the IMF crisis, so it was meaningful to tell this story.' Big Deal is set in the chaotic financial landscape of 1997. The film focuses on a conflict between two professionals caught in a high-stakes struggle over control of Korea's national soju industry. While the characters are fictional, the backdrop is historically accurate.
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Lee Je Hoon promises Signal Season 2 will ‘meet expectations', shares thoughts on reuniting with Kim Hye Soo and Cho Jin Woong
After years of speculation and anticipation, the popular drama Signal is finally getting a second season. First broadcast in 2016, the series left a lasting mark on Korean television with its narrative that bridged timelines and tackled cold cases. Now, almost ten years later, Signal 2 is in production and set to air in the first half of 2026. The announcement has sparked excitement among fans and among the cast themselves. Actor Lee Je Hoon, who played profiler Park Hae Young in Season 1, recently shared his thoughts on returning to the role after nearly a decade. Lee Je Hoon on reuniting with the cast During a group interview held on June 2 in Seoul's Samcheong-dong, Lee Je Hoon opened up while promoting his upcoming film Big Deal. The conversation quickly shifted to Signal. And the actor spoke warmly about reuniting with co-stars Kim Hye Soo and Cho Jin Woong. As quoted by AllKpop, 'It's rare (for a cast) to reunite and act together again after 10 years. For me, it's something I'll remember for the rest of my life,' he said. Lee Je Hoon expressed that reuniting with his co-stars after such a long time brought a sense of comfort and renewed inspiration. He noted that everyone had matured over the years and felt the atmosphere on set had become more relaxed compared to the past. A confident promise As filming for Season 2 continues, Lee Je Hoon confidently expressed that the production is going well. He emphasized the dedication of the cast and crew and hinted that viewers won't be disappointed. 'It will definitely be a project that meets expectations,' he said. 'We're filming in good spirits, so I hope everyone will wait just a bit longer.' With the original trio back and production already underway, Signal 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated drama sequels in recent memory. Fans who have waited nearly a decade for answers may finally get the closure they've been hoping for. What fans can expect in Season 2 Signal originally concluded with several mysteries still unresolved, particularly the fate of detective Lee Jae Han, played by Cho Jin Woong. The series followed detectives from different timelines who collaborated to crack long-forgotten cases. They get linked by a walkie-talkie that allows them to communicate across time. Season 2 promises to pick up where the original left off. Kim Hye Soo will return as Cha Soo Hyun of the Cold Case Squad. Cho Jin Woong reprises his role as the missing detective Lee Jae Han, and Lee Je Hoon resumes his part as profiler Park Hae Young. Their reunion has raised expectations for a powerful continuation of the story.
